Noteworthy: Dead Right Horror Trivia, 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 25 at the Wheelhouse Bar, 132 E. Elkhorn Ave. in Estes Park, is free to the public

The inaugural Stanley Film Festival last year was successful enough that the horror is returning this month to the spookiest place in Colorado.

The festival is housed at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, which will be host to horror junkies, silver-screen stars and filmmakers from across the nation April 24-27.

Organizers say this year's experience promises to add deeper elements of immersion into the mix of ghost, zombie and demon flicks to enable fans of the genre to get lost in the sensation they so adamantly seek: fright. There also will be horror trivia, big-wheel races, a zombie procession and an immersive horror game.

"The film program is representing the very best of independent film," said Landon Zakheim, programming director for the festival. "On top of that, the film program is supposed to represent a larger, dark carnival, including horror trivia, whiskey tasting ... and the murder-mystery dinner."

The horror game is shrouded in ghostly mystery but puts participants in the protagonist seat of a "creepy interactive thriller," making use of the Stanley Hotel itself. Zakheim said the festival also incluides a lot of hidden secrets, including a secret screening of a "highly anticipated new film."

Another addition this year is a partnership with the Denver Film Society.

Alexandre Philippe, director of "Doc of the Dead," believes this year's Stanley Film Festival promises to be "really unique and special." (Courtesy photo)

"We were fortunate to start off with a strong film lineup, especially in such a niche festival," Zakheim said. "This year it's being produced by the Denver Film Society, so their resources, infrastructure and their team has been really beneficial to this year's festival."

"I know the Denver Film Society folks really well. It's great that they're branching out," said Alexandre Philippe, a Denver resident who directed the festival's opening-night film, "Doc of the Dead."

"Doc of the Dead," which debuted at this year's South By Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas, is a comprehensive documentary centered on zombie culture, from 17th century African zombies to zombie literature, zombie fashion shows and any other undead thing one can think of.

"This (festival) has the potential to be really unique and special, by virtue of the location and the programming," Philippe said. "They're going all out with zombie games, the zombie walk and the zombie burlesque show," Philippe said.

This year's Visionary Award, the cornerstone of the festival, will be awarded to actor Elijah Wood, who founded SpectreVision with Daniel Noah and Josh Waller. SpectreVision was founded in 2010 as a film production company, mostly dealing in horror films. It also manages music, books, comics and games, according to the company's website.

Wood will host panels, chat with fans and possibly even do DJ sets. The 2013 award went to horror film superstar director and actor Eli Roth.

"We give to people doing contemporary visions, giving back to the community of horror and also pushing the genre," Zakheim said. "The nice thing about the horror community is that they're very loving. They kind of rally around each other, both the fans and the filmmakers."

Among the 2014 festival's 30-plus films (including shorts) are restored versions of such classics as "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," which is celebrating 40 years, and "Gremlins," celebrating its 30th. Director Joe Dante will present "Gremlins." There also will be a showing of the silent film "The Fall of the House of Usher" with live musical accompaniment.

There will be a free family screening of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" at 11:30 a.m. April 27 in a newly added venue to the festival, the Historic Park Theater.

"We're happy to be engaging the community more this year with local discounts and rates as a way to welcome and appreciate all the locals and surrounding towns to check out all the interesting things we're up to," Zakheim said.

"There's a big excitement in getting scared together in situations where you can lose yourself, but still be safe once the lights come up. There's a primal esponse there that's really fun to watch."

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